On Friday, the Chicago Tribune posted an article about the growing need for the implementation of a Silver Alert system. Gus's bill was highlighted as a possible solution.

From The Tribune...

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) wants to see Silver Alert activated in every state, particularly in Florida, which leads the nation in residents 65 and older. Moved by Zelter's story, last month he introduced a bill called The Silver Alert Grant Program of 2008. If enacted, it would award all states and U.S. territories grants of at least $100,000 as seed money to jump-start Silver Alert programs.

According to Peter Reed, senior director of programs for the Chicago-based national office of the Alzheimer's Association, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease "is expected to explode from 5 million [currently] to up to 16 million by 2050."

"For somebody with Alzheimer's disease, the data show 6 out of 10 will wander during the course of the disease. If they're not found within 24 hours, as many as half will suffer serious injury or death," Reed said. Read more...

On Tuesday, June 3rd, Gus will be holding a press conference with state legislators and local elderly and Alzheimer’s advocates to highlight his legislation (H.R. 5898) to create a federal Silver Alert Program and how such a program would bolster efforts toward implementing a Silver Alert system in Florida.